The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-05-05

ed servant attending him. Direct,
he began explaining to us his wish
es, and as near rs | can repeai
spoke of his bequest to establish s
female school in Pulaski. He told
us his intentions were TO so arrange
as to have the fCnd placed so as tc
be perpetuated and not perverted IN
any way. He thought, aud said
the board of trustees should be
nominated, as provided in his will,
for the reason that the stewards OF
the Methodist Episcopal Clutch
would or should always he good
and pure men AMI by that means O
good board of trust would be kept.
OF c0urseI did not know what was
contained in his will, but be GER
tainly did Gay-and from his in
stcuctions to us-did not intend
| that conference should control the
school, or that it should be demon
national, but just to the contrary,
and that the officers of the NJ. L
church were intended to be as guar
! dams to perpetuate means to keep
The funds from being diverted from
his intentions. At this juncture
Judge Spofford, his son-in law,
came hastily into the room and told
Mr.. Martin be must not talk, when
the interview ended"
REV. RoB'T CALDWELL WRITES:
LIVINGSTON, ALA. April 24-Dr.
c. e. Alternately. Dear Sir: Yours
Of The 18th inst came to hand yes
terday. | win attempt to comply
Nth your request. For more than
/ quarter of a century Mr.. Martin
ND myself we're almost daily in ia
mjliar and intimate intercourse.
Occasionally during that period we
we're in confidential relationship.
Mr.. Martin was a pronounced
Methods. an doctrine, but not 50
much in his views of ecclesiastical
polily. He was democrat in re-
iigion IS we'll as in politics. Hence
ne was opposed to Capitalization Of
power, both in state and church.
He was adverse to government
hat dominated local institutions,
As to denominational schools OIL
earning, except theological ones,
his opposition Was earnest-at least
SO far as their being controlled by
ministerial bodies. Local church
control lie did not object to. This
subject was often subject Of con
rersation between US, particularly
in relation to the establishment of a
female seminary in Pulaski He
once proposed to give $1,000 for the
erection Of g connexions building
for the educating of young ladies,
30 be supplemented by donations
from others, and to show his unsec
tartan catholic spirit suggested that
f such an edifice should be erected
and a school put in operation the
management and control of the
same be placed in the hands of not
presbytery, synod or general as
sembly, but of the session Of the
Presbyterian church at Pulaski.
Again, during my principalsbip
Of The Female Academy, at Pulaski,
several attempts were made to es-
tablish q distinctly Methodist school
at Pulaski, to each of which efforts
Mr.. Martin put himself in earnest
opposition. His children were con
linued under my tuition. This
leads ne to the consideration of the
subject matter of your commuhlca-
ton. Mr.. Martin had confidential
iy informed NE Of his intention Of
bequeathiDG something for the pur-
pose o. erecting and endowing an
Institution of learning for females
at Pulaski, but not until a visit to
him in his chamber Of sickness he
fully revealed to me his full inten-
zion and the amount be proposed to
beqneath. He WAS then, evidently,
q dying man, and | proposed the
question, had he put his house
IN order?' His reply was that he
tad, aud then without entering into
any minute detail Of the will he
had made, he spoke plainly con
corning his educational bequest. Ii
l understood him correctly, the OBJ
ject Of his bequest was not of any
denominations interest, but for the
public good. IL other words, while
az a Methodist it becomes proper
for him to show a becoming respect
to his church, by making it the
trustee, if | may use the word, of
his endowment, and by his church
| mean the represen tAtive officers OF
the Methodist communion at Pu
aski Still it was clear to my mind
he had no design Of having a dis
unctively denominational phase
prefxcd TO the contemplated build
ing and institution of learning
Ny decided conviction is that Mr..
Martin fully intended that the
Methodist church or communion,
located at Pulaski, should be the
source Of control over such build
ing and school in entire distinct on
from district or annual conference
rule and authority. [ have thus
hastily written my views of tue mo-
mentous question now at issue
views taken from my knowledge of
the conservative ana catholic spirit
of Mr.. Martin, as well as from his
long line Of antecedants. | eXcee l.
ingly regret the present agitation OF
so delicate and momentQns a ques-
tiop. 4 contest at law may ser-
ously damage the interest Of the in
stitution, now so generally patron.
lied, and one which by its success
is now doing honor to the memory OF
Mr.. Martin. Respectfully,
L. CALDWELL.
JUDGE THOMAS NJ. JONES SAYS:
u was requested by AIr. Thomas
Martin, during his last sickness, tC
) write his will. In obedience to his
request l went to his house and, af.
ter taking full notes of the ditferent
provisions of his will, he remarked
with great feeling This eyes filing
with tears) that he had come 10 Pu
laski many years ago (as under
stood him, before he was q years
, old and Lad formed business
,, connection with certain gentle
l o-ho